Meet Mark

Let me introduce myself. My name is Mark Sisson. I’m 63 years young. I live and work in Malibu, California. In a past life I was a professional marathoner and triathlete. Now my life goal is to help 100 million people get healthy. I started this blog in 2006 to empower people to take full responsibility for their own health and enjoyment of life by investigating, discussing, and critically rethinking everything we’ve assumed to be true about health and wellness...

10 Principles of Primal Living That Are (Finally) Getting Mainstream Media Coverage

We don’t take credit for everything, of course, but the fact remains that the Primal/ancestral health community has been championing principles that directly oppose the conventional wisdom for nearly a decade. And while serious researchers have been paying attention to and studying these issues individually for years, no one had really synthesized them under the evolutionary umbrella. Now that our movement is becoming more popular and the scientific case for its principles more solid than ever, denying that a bit of sun might be good for you or that sitting is killing you slowly or that eggs aren’t deadly after all is no longer tenable.

Yes, Primal health principles and positions are getting mainstream recognition. Let’s take a look at some of the major ones.

That sitting is bad and exercise might not be enough.

Everyone knows that being sedentary is a poor health choice. But most people figured the solution was to set aside regular times each week to exercise. Formal exercise was the answer, and movement was segregated from “normal” life. As long as you hit the gym every other day, you could do nothing for the remainder of your time and be perfectly healthy.

Going barefoot isn’t insane.

Going barefoot is perhaps the most intuitive Primal lifestyle change. People can deny the meat-eating, fat-loving, sun-seeking behavior, they can claim that “sleep is for the weak” and “gluten-free is a fad” all they want, but they can’t ignore the shoeless feet that humans have been born with for millions of years. The bare feet we wear to bed at night somehow use to walk without teetering over and falling or twisting an ankle on the way to the bathroom are also fairly competent vehicles for daily locomotion.

Things are changing. Dr. Oz just came out in support of saturated fat on his blog and on his show (with Peter Attia). Late last year, a British cardiologist wrote in a leading medical journal that “saturated fat is not the problem.” The pathetic response dripping with cognitive dissonance from the experts doesn’t change the reality: people are realizing that saturated fat in the context of a healthy diet is not the problem and may even be a healthy fuel source.

That your gut bacteria affects your brain and almost everything else.

It used to be that suggesting the gut could affect the way your brain functioned would get you laughed out of the room for peddling woo-woo alternative medicine nonsense. And sure, there remain some holdouts among the cynic – I mean skeptic – community, who insist that “it’s too early to make conclusions” and thus “don’t waste your time trying to figure out gut health until the experts reach consensus and your doctor can tell you what to do.”

Meanwhile, reasonable people agree that the gut is the next big thing – in mental, digestive, immune, and overall health – and that we have plenty of actionable information. The Public Library of Science (PLOS) blog is writing about fecal transplants, for crying out loud. NPR is writing about the ability of your gut bacteria to control your mind, and Wired just published an interview with a researcher obsessed with the danger posed by antibiotics to our gut bacteria.

That leaky gut exists.

Mentioning leaky gut used to get you laughed out of a doctor’s appointment. It used to be the province of the quacks, the charlatans, the snake oil salesmen, and the ancestral health community.

We didn’t make it up. Researchers have been studying and referencing “intestinal permeability” and the exogenous agents and physiological conditions that cause it for years. It’s an established fact that the tight junctions lining the small intestine can become “leaky” and permit passage of potentially harmful or antigenic compounds into the body. Heck, for infants, a decent level of intestinal permeability is physiologically normal, expected, and even necessary! But until recently, it wasn’t acknowledged as real in the mainstream.

And even though it remains off the radar of most medical professionals, the Daily Beast just published a piece acknowledging both its existence and probable role in many illnesses. Will that change everything? Nope. It’s a good start, though.

Gluten can be a problem for people without celiac.

Although fervent opposition persists, the notion that gluten can be problematic for people other than celiacs is gaining wider acceptance.

One of the top tennis players in the game is famously gluten-free. Gluten sensitivity is an accepted clinical entity. Google searches for “gluten” have been trending higher month over month for years, while the number of searches for “celiac” has plateaued, indicating that something else is going on. Around 30% of American adults currently try to reduce or eliminate gluten from their diets, according to a recent poll, and gluten-free dating sites are helping gluten-free dieters match up with people who share their situation. To top it all off, the FDA’s just weighed in with some official standards for gluten-labeling.

That sunlight isn’t just an agent of death and disfigurement.

The mainstream coverage of sunlight is still mainly negative, but there’s a little ray of hope poking through: a begrudging acknowledgment that strict avoidance of it often results in vitamin D deficiency. Even if their answer is to keep avoiding it and pop a few D3 capsules, they’ve admitted that the sun provides a benefit, and that’s big.

Butter is better than margarine.

For years, we were told that margarine was the healthier choice. It had SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY behind it. Plus, we made it, and everyone knows that we’ve conquered and surpassed nature. Except margarine is disgusting. The older ones were full of trans-fat and the new ones are full of omega-6.

Eggs are healthy.

Eggs are a good example of the oscillatory nature of nutritional advice. “First eggs were killing us, now they’re okay, next they’re bad…” Well, I’ve been saying it for years: eggs are good for you, darn good for you, and it sounds like people are beginning to get it. Sure, you’ve got the diehard zealots who compare egg yolks to cigarettes and do their best to scare you off them, but they’re running out of steam and their arguments always fail under scrutiny.

That statins may have untoward consequences.

For years, we’ve been seeing and pointing to reports of connections between statins and diabetes, dementia, muscle pain/wasting, and overall unintended health consequences to little mainstream avail. Sure, you guys reading this are probably a bit more cautious before popping the pills, but statins are still the biggest drugs on the market.

Leave a Reply

136 Comments on "10 Principles of Primal Living That Are (Finally) Getting Mainstream Media Coverage"

Notify of new replies to this comment

Notify of new replies to this comment

Sort by:
newest |
oldest

Tainerman

3 years 9 months ago

Mark,

I’ve been Primal for about 8 months now. I’ve never been a fad follower, but your approach really struck a chord with me, primarily because it was backed up by data, sound analysis, common sense, and it matched my own personal experience.

This post is more evidence that you are on the right track.

I can’t thank you enough for all of your work. It has made a big difference in my life and I’ve been trying to gently nudge the people I care about in the same direction.

Thank you!

Chris

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Duncan

3 years 9 months ago

You make a good point – Conventional wisdom tried to portray Paleo/Primal as a “fad” diet. The problem is that (1) its not just a diet, and, (2) it works!

The fact that Mark alters his position when new facts compel a new position is one more reason I will always come back here.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Tainerman

3 years 9 months ago

Yes. It seems to work for a large number of people, including me. I’ve seen posts where people knock it big time because “you WILL plateau on Paleo. It’s inevitable…” Seriously? If that’s the biggest criticism, then we have no worries. How many “diets” can boast that? Some may have you lose weight, maybe even a lot of weight, but 99% of people inevitably gain it back, plus some. Doing the Primal thing, you lose. Then you plateau. The you lose. Then you plateau. It’s like a downward-moving ratchet. Has been for me anyway. Adding weight has not been much… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Duncan

3 years 9 months ago

I was at 195 pounds when I switched to primal, with a 36 inch waste (most I had ever weighed, I had just quit smoking, but I had been consistently at about 180-15 and “skinny fat.”) In two months, I was down to 180 – I did “plateau”, but then added sprints and more regular weight work, and I have now been “plateauing” at 170, which is perfect for me at 5’11”. I bounce between about 168 and 175, with a 33 inch waist. My body composition is different than it has been my entire life – even my face… Read more »

i don’t preach to the world my eating ways, but when my diet does come up people are not surprised. Usually I hear, “oh, so and so is doing that.” or, “tell me about it.”

Even in my no-face social circles on my blog, twitter, facebook, tumblr, and google+ people are interested and when I post on the matter they chime in that they know people going this way.

It’s great to see the mainstream catching on.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Wenchypoo

3 years 9 months ago

Speaking of statins, Japan is in favor of raising LDL limits in their country to so-called “dangerous” levels, and continuing to brand people as healthy. New cholesterol guidelines would look like 178 for men, and 152-190 for women (depending on age). They agree over there that too many people are getting needless statin treatment.

I wish we could see that kind of light, but no–the profit margin here is just too high.

I was sitting in a doctor’s office yesterday and the “Health TV” that was looping in the waiting room was till preaching the exact opposite of most of these principles. Pass the low fat sour cream 🙂

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Shary

3 years 9 months ago

Yep, the opposite is still being preached to a large extent by the medical profession. I saw a newspaper article just the other day advising diabetics to avoid red meat, saturated fat, and full-fat dairy, and to eat sufficient whole grain products. Oh, and to be sure and take their meds.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

chuck

3 years 9 months ago

You nailed it… “eat grains and take your meds”… I’m diabetic (44 rs old), had to take my meds to keep my sugar levels between 150-200.. I went primal 3 months ago, stopped the meds then too, sugar levels are 90-140 since..

600000 people studied…. saturated fat is fine for diabetics. Hmmm. Well, then I guess it’s ok for non-diabetics….

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Bill C

3 years 9 months ago

Low-fat? The cafe I work at uses fat-free sour cream. Corn/modified food starch is high on the ingredients list, for texture and consistency mimicry. “The cake is a lie” has taken new meaning.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

drjoyous

3 years 9 months ago

I’ve work birkenstocks for years…do they qualify as minimal footwear (I’m not partial to the look of the vibrams…). What do you all think?

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Shary

3 years 9 months ago

I’ve worn Birkies for years too. I don’t know if they qualify as minimal but I love ’em. I say wear what works for you as long as they don’t abuse your feet. I feel sorry for women whose jobs require that they wear high heels.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Dave

3 years 9 months ago

my choice is real, au naturel bare feet, or a pair of $3 flip flops

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Bill

3 years 9 months ago

Flipflops are not au naturel. In fact, they’re a great way to get hammertoes.

I actually found flip flops (of the thong variety) to be pretty annoying after going barefoot/vibram/vivo. I hated the way I could feel my toes gripping the little strap by my big toe and the sole of the shoe. It felt sooooo weird. Now I’m wearing barefoot shoes or no shoes at all 90% of the time, and any “flip flops” I own have to have ample space for my toes and a heal strap.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Simone

3 years 9 months ago

A bit off topic, but does anybody have experience with xero shoes (barefoot thong flip flops)? I would like to try them, but I am hesitant because the shipping costs to my country are ridiculous!

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Rhonda the Red

3 years 9 months ago

I love the old Xero shoes. Super comfortable and very customizable in how you tie them. There’s a new shoe out (Amuri Cloud) and though it is cool, neither my daughter nor I were big fans of the fit. I prefer my straightup old Xeros.

I also LOVE my Soft Star shoes, my Sockwas, and my Unshoes. I haven’t tried Lunas yet, but probably will at some point. I don’t run in my shoes, they are for daily wear. I haven’t worn a heel of any kind in almost three years. My feet thank me for it.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Janina

3 years 9 months ago

I adore Xero shoes. They’re my favorite shoes for any terrain. My feet are a lot healthier, stronger and more supple after a year of wearing them. I never wore high heels, but I did wear stiff soled shoes. It took a while before I could wear the Xeros comfortably all day on pavement but now it’s a breeze. I also didn’t trim them to fit my foot until I’d worn them for 4 months, just to see how they sat. My only complaint is the pink ones aren’t really pink, they’re a dull red like an old pencil eraser.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Simone

3 years 9 months ago

Thanks for your replies! I may need to get them then anyway… Maybe just do 2 pairs at once. I wish I could convince my boyfriend to try minimalist shoes, but because of birth issues he has one smaller foot (about an inch smaller!) and has always worn orthopedic shoes.
For me, I feel better after about 7 months of no heels, especially my ankle and knee joints. Those vivos feel great.
I need to search for those unshoes 🙂 They sound awesome
If anybody knows more barefoot brands, let me know!

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Yasmine

3 years 9 months ago

They have kind of rigid arch support, so I wouldn’t call them minimalist. I don’t find them particularly comfortable for that reason.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Dana

3 years 9 months ago

The minimal part’s supposed to be the sole more than the upper, so no. Birkies are basically thick slabs. (My wasband wore them.)

Once in a while Vibrams go on sale; they’re out of my reach otherwise, and I have to be careful which upper style I get because I have gigantic rises (distance from sole of foot to top of foot). But I will probably grab them at some point. I’m not proud. I wear New Balance right now. Most people don’t look at your feet anyway.

Amen Mark!! My daughter in law is a cardiologist. When I found I had some “moderate” calcification of teh arteries she wanted me to get on statins immediately. I deferrred to fish oil, bitamin K2, and primal eating (going on 2 years now) My son and she both were upset that I didn’t run to the drugstore with prescription in hand. She even told me just about every doctor over 40 is taking statins as a preventative! Well, If God allows me to live long– and then drop dead, I may be officiating at thier funerals! (sorry, that’s pretty morbid–but… Read more »

Yes– returned–calcification slightly less!!! Considering I am 63 and had years of poor nutritional choices, having moderate calcification is really about “normal”– but it’s exciting to see that even this can be reversed!

BTW- this is a great forum– so far ahead of it’s time.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

keith

3 years 9 months ago

Congrats!! Keep at it and show even those in the business that pills aren’t the right or only answer!

Good on ya!

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Susan

3 years 9 months ago

I have doctors in my family as well. One is firmly in the CW corner but she listens to Dr. Oz so maybe she’ll come around. The other has always been ‘alternative’ medicine and he’s interested in the articles I send him regarding Primal living.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

patrick

3 years 9 months ago

The average life expectancy of a cw doctor is roughly seven years lees than their long suffering patients. Why anyone listens to these miss informed drug pushers is way beyond my comprehension. Good primal nutrition and exercise is all we need to live healthy lives. Also I have had no problems with my teeth since I found this lifestyle five years ago. The savings on both doctors and dentists easily more than cover the cost of the high nutrient foods required.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Energy!

3 years 9 months ago

My mom’s family doctor volunteered one time that she thought eating wheat was a bad idea…I couldn’t resist saying, “Amen!”

She’s the only doc I’ve heard say anything sensible about diet, but then I avoid docs aside from the rare actual sickness.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Simone

3 years 9 months ago

HA! Even 20 years ago, when I was a kid, I never wanted to eat bread with margarine. I hated it so much and tried to avoid every piece of it by playing with my food. With no satisfactory result I must say as my parents forced me to eat it. But, I may have been onto something 😉

Even now, if people bring the stuff with them, I smell it almost immediately after they unwrap the sandwich and I almost have to throw up (for real!)

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Elenor

3 years 9 months ago

I once horrendously insulted a friend who invited me to her Thanksgiving meal — I brought real butter to her house, ’cause I didn’t know if she was a margarine type — and I wasn’t going to risk it! (I was surprised she was so offended — but tough luck! Not gonna eat margarine for anyone!)

Bare feet are a wonderful way for a growing human to connect confidently to the earth, develop essential balance skills, and, yes, help populate his/her microbiome (if/when the feet find the mouth). One of the (many) things I would do differently if I could re-do my parenting would be to stop putting things on my kids’ feet whenever possible.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Ian

3 years 9 months ago

I agree! I can’t wait until my little guy walks. He’s going barefoot whenever possible. My feet were flat and the toes don’t properly flex, and neither do my wife’s, thanks to shoes. Strengthening my feet was the best thing that happened to my knees and even to exercise in general.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Tricia

3 years 9 months ago

My little ones didn’t like the way grass felt under their feet when learning to walk. They would start crying right away when we put them down in the grass. They have little mocassin type shoes that we used on their feet and they are inexpensive and easy to find at most discount stores. My youngest does play in the dirt and his hands definitely find his mouth. 🙂 My older ones are now barefoot all the time at home and outside when the weather is nice.

Sweet!!!! I may be new to Primal (14 months) but growing up comfort food was grilled meat, veggies, salad and a baked potato with butter, (cheese and sour cream) Thank you Mark and co for all you do to help keep the message moving forward. I had a fried ask… what is a condensed eating window… I replied part of my plan to train my cells to use fat as fuel (since I still have 60 of my original 160 left to loose). I gave her a bit of my health journey… stated sorry for over sharing.. she replied.. No… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

keith

3 years 9 months ago

There is far too much money now in keeping people unhealthy and having them buy pills to “fix” things and more pills to fix the side effects of the other pills. Its disgusting how corrupt big Pharma has gotten to include companies like Monsanto and others who are deeply embedded in keeping us all sick. I don’t fully follow Marks instructions but i am moving that direction at my own pace and can honestly say I feel better every day I do. My eyes are open to the truths and I hope I can extend the life of me and… Read more »

Changing my diet and doing shorter and more intense exercises, has drammatically improved not only my overall fitness and well-being, but also helped a lot with back problems that I have been struggling with for years.
Thanks Mark!

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Rita Potter

3 years 9 months ago

I just saw an ambulance chaser commercial on late night TV looking for women with high cholesterol who had been prescribed Lipitor as there is now a lawsuit out there against the manufacturers that Lipitor caused type II diabetes in women taking it. I have been resisting taking this drug for years and am now vindicated!

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Eden sharp

3 years 9 months ago

Hey Mark. I discovered your amazing site about a year a go and haven’t looked back so while I knew primal was the way to go based on the evidence I was getting from my own body it’s great that finally it’s breaking through into the mainstream and we can hopefully look forward to a healthier way of living being prescribed by the powers that be. I read recently that Norway is the first country in the world to alter its public medical and dietary advice to its citizens in terms of advocating low carb/high fat. As a Brit though… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Tyrannocaster

3 years 9 months ago

I think Mark’s tongue was firmly in his cheek, as it often is.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Josh

3 years 9 months ago

The crazy thing is, after this starts to become mainstream, all these conventional wisdom fanatics are going to claim these primal principles to be their own ideas. The people who advocate for change never get the credit due them. And I find this to be unfortunate. Even though Dr Oz has had the likes of Chris K and Tim Ferriss on his show, people are not going to seek out these people, they are going to associate it with Dr Oz. I for one have been pushing paleo/primal for a year now to my friends and family…then a week ago… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Ginger

3 years 9 months ago

SO true that Dr. Oz is going to.get the credit, drives me nuts! My husband and I have been Primal for four years, thanks to this site and Mark’s book, and our families and friends (none of whom are in good health) scoffed, called us crazy, and worried over the dangerous way we were eating. Now some of them are going gluten free on the advice of their doctors, and my (vegetarian) mother is spouting off all the same things we have been telling her as if it is the newly discovered gospel truth because Doctor Oz is finally preaching… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Greg

3 years 9 months ago

Doctor Oz gives lip service to these ideas but he never really changes his stance. He has had Dr Mercola, Gary Taubes, Dr Sinatra, Dr Perlmutter and many more but the next day he is back to low fat healthy grains. The only healthy fats are mono unsaturated. He truly looked convinced after Dr Sinatra explained cholesterol to him, but by the next day he was back to conventional wisdom.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Rhonda the Red

3 years 9 months ago

Show me the money.

As long as there is big money in big agra and big pharma, there will be too much financial inducement/encouragement/implied threat for many in the health establishment to depart from party lines.

The sick care system is far too lucrative as it stands today. If we all started getting healthy, what would Kelloggs and Pfizer do? And that’s only to name a couple of industrial giants whose entire financial portfolio is dependent on us eating Poptarts and taking statins.

“…after this starts to become mainstream, all these conventional wisdom fanatics are going to claim these primal principles to be their own ideas.”

The French have been practicing these “primal principles” since forever!

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Greg

3 years 9 months ago

We all know the French are saved by all that wine. We even have a name for it, “The French Paradox “. My tongue in cheek explanation was all the aspirin from all the wine.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Clay

3 years 9 months ago

All that matters is that people become healthier. If healthy eating get’s co-opted by the mainstream, all the better. Just image the change if the AMA, AHA and the USDA and FDA got with the program and stopped peddling a low fat grain heavy diet. Proper credit for ideas only feeds the ego and has no real place in positive change. True success comes when a great idea become so ubiquitous that it’s perceived is being a self evident truth.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

linda greek

3 years 9 months ago

My best friend did the same thing!!! I have been doing this for 4 years. . when I started, she told me it was baloney, I couldn’t function on just these food items, had to have grains. .. I lost 15 pounds in 3 months. She had about 70 to lose and just kept eating her way. Last year, she got married, doctor told her she has to lose weight if she wants to get better. . .low and behold, she is now grain free!! imagine where she would be if she had followed me 4 years ago!!! to each… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Scott UK

3 years 9 months ago

The mainstream is also beginning to see the light / sunlight / flux / etc

This article made me smile, particularly: “Margarine lost, butter won.” Not only entertaining and bigger-smile inducing, but true and so good that it is! I have been reading this blog for 2.5 years and love what it stands for and how it is done. I have made a decision to post MDA articles and/or links to some of the articles within to help disseminate the info among any friends who may catch on and keep the information going. As always, Mark, Carrie, and Team, KEEP IT UP!!!! 🙂

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

vanessa

3 years 9 months ago

I love butter but I’m the only one out of my friends and family who eats it. Everyone loves margarine. It makes me sick 🙂

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Kevin Grokman

3 years 9 months ago

Haven’t had margarine for…I don’t know how long. I don’t recall my taste buds being so sensitive to pick up the difference but aside from just seeing what it tastes like I wouldn’t go back!

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Elenor

3 years 9 months ago

No, it makes THEM sick!!

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Dave

3 years 9 months ago

Growing up in S. FL blonde and blue and having my first basal cell carcinoma removed from my nose at 25 did not strengthen my love for the sun.

I went very low carb in early 2010 and lost a bunch of weight and generally felt a lot better. in 2012 we had some serious family issues hit the fan. I had a HUGE desire to get out on the sun. Getting probably six hours a week did miracles for my mood. Despite all the sun, my annual dermatologist appointment in January netted a, “Keep up the good work!”

Deal.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Enkidu

3 years 9 months ago

” Hey Dr. Oz, we booked Dr. Peter Attia to talk about the new outlook on saturated fats in the diet!”

“Great job team, he is a wealth of information on the topic. Let’s have him roll a bunch of balls down a stupid ramp to demonstrate the difference between small and large particle LDL! That’s a great use of our time with him!”

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Anna

3 years 9 months ago

Come on, it wouldn’t be Dr. Oz without the barmy demonstration!

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Wyllyness

3 years 9 months ago

I’m glad I’m not the only one who has noticed this trend! Since I started going Primal, and becoming a Primal missionary, I have been waiting and watching for the mainstream to figure it out, but thought that it may be impossible for the government to backtrack and say that processed food is killing us, and all the other things they have proclaimed as gospel for the financial benefits, yadda, yadda. You all know l what I’m talking about. So many jobs would be lost. They take up so much of our grocery stores, and are such giant corps, our… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Judy

3 years 9 months ago

I think Mark tends to take the higher altruistic position. He has written this blog for many years without any payment…..(as you can tell I come from a time before the all knowing interweb made information so available. Especially info on nutrient and physical fitness.) And after all…this is where it is at. Who watches TV anymore? Right kids under 30?

Hey Mark! I’ve been trying to get my husband to eat primal. He’s on the fence. Change. He has inflammatory issues in his elbows, wrists, and back. I think he would benefit from this. Also people from my run group are talking about this way of eating and since I’m the only one who eats this way they ask questions. People who run think they need those carbs! I think Peter Attia’s very brief spot on Dr. Oz didn’t give him enough time to make an impact, but it was a start. I’m a big fan of Peter Attia. People… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Ultinate

3 years 9 months ago

I work as a Health Coach and the company I work for strictly adheres to the EBM guidelines. (Evidence Based Medicine). The information and material that is provided to me to provide to my patients is out of date and out of touch. I am constantly “going against the grain” and referring people to Mark’s Daily Apple, Dr. Jack Kruse, Ben Greenfield, and Dave Asprey, just to name a few. My patient base is Average America…overweight, over worked, under educated, and under nourished. I bring the same basic ideas to every patient of consuming a more nutrient dense whole food… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Diana

3 years 9 months ago

I can remember my Mum in the early 50’s saying she wasn’t having margarine kids. We had butter. When it was on ration she mixed the butter with some margarine to make it go further. I have been eating butter and no margarine for several years now, before coming across the Primal Blueprint. As for going without shoes, my eldest son didn’t wear shoes regulary for the first 2 years of his life. I was told off as he is flat footed, but this is a hereditary thing, and he has never had any problems with his feet. I don’t… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Kristi

3 years 9 months ago

This website has helped me tremendously. I followed advice of common wisdom and doctors and all it did was make me sick and fat. I think losing the fear of eating fatty food was the biggest help to me. I’m not totally primal/paleo but I’ve cut way down on the low fat “diet” junk foods and cut way back on breads. I’ve upped real meats, veggies, and fruits. I lost 70 lbs so far and feel much better.

Way to go! It is a journey. Ive made small changes for 4 years. Not making a new change till the last one became part of my lifestyle.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Superchunk

3 years 9 months ago

I certainly hope minds are changing, but if anything it seems like the CW mainstream hears the Paleo/Primal footsteps coming and is going on the counterattack. I still get CW publications like Berkeley Wellness Letter and Nutrition Action that I used to subscribe to before I found Primal (my subscriptions haven’t run out yet and I won’t be re-subscribing) and I now see them in a whole new light. It seems pretty clear that their agenda is not to present options that may help people become healthy, but rather to defend a point of view, go on the attack against… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Elenor

3 years 9 months ago

I still ‘subscribe’ to Life Extension Foundation (for the cheap blood tests and decent-to-good vitamins — mainly for the blood tests!) but I am always SO frustrated by their magazine — it’s supposed to be cutting-edge medical research? And it’s still all the old stupid CW! Then Consumer Reports came this week — and same thing! They’re SUPPOSED to be doing real actual solid TRUSTWORTHY research on stuff — and they tell you how many fat grams are in some food they recommend, but not carbs; they push “heart-healthy-whole-grains” … Does no one in these outfits ever keep up? Catch… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Superchunk

3 years 9 months ago

Yes, same here. LEF seems to just be pill pushers.

Something I appreciate about the Ancestral Health Community is that people seem to point out the contra-indications and weak/unsettled points in a position rather than portraying things as settled science when there are grey areas or compelling points in the opposite direction. There is just no alternative to thinking for yourself and checking everything.

Well better late than never. The truth was there all along – I didn’t really know it consciously, but my body has been telling me for 56 years how and what to eat. I just didn’t trust and listen. I went through years of abusing my body with trendy diets, starvation, eating disorders, emotional eating, and up and down yo-yo dieting just to have a love/hate relationship with the same 25-30 lbs. The healthiest time of my life was during my two pregnancies when I paid strict attention to eating well – meat and veggies, no junk. I’m sure some… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Michelle

3 years 9 months ago

Candace – we could be twins. You go for it and good luck.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Ingrid

3 years 9 months ago

Amen Candace. That’s my story in a nutshell. So I will emulate 100%. Thanks for the extra motivation.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Wildrose

3 years 9 months ago

My dad usually does whatever the doctor says, but he’s a bit bitter about statins. He had the muscle wasting problems and even years later, there’s lingering pain. They had him on a different statin for a while but he finally went off it. He’s never had a heart attack either…

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

His Dudeness

3 years 9 months ago

“…You’ve got the most prestigious publication in the history of the world, the Daily Mail… ” Ha! Maximum trolling. My parents are finally coming around after years of extremely early morning workouts with trainers and soy-based protein shakes afterwards. It hasn’t been working and they’re starting to hear more and more about this ‘paleo thing’ from their friends – because hearing it from me for four years wasn’t enough. It also helps that the primal friendly dishes I bring for family gatherings always get the best reviews, much to my mother’s pride/chagrin. I use real fat and whole foods, just… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Hannahbelle

3 years 9 months ago

My 8yo cooked eggs for her friends yesterday, they loved them (so did their mum). Asked for the recipe “eggs, lots of ghee and some duck fat.”

One of the kids said something about lots of fat making you fat. I just said that these were healthy fats and we need lots of them. It’s scary that an 8yo already has that mentality that fat is unhealthy.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Nocona

3 years 9 months ago

I went to a fancy wine tasting and noticed another guy wearing the dressy, black leather 5 Fingers like me. There was a bit of a nod and wink between us.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Julie

3 years 9 months ago

Great piece today. I work in a convalescent center where the residents are constantly starting at their TVs. I have noticed this trend and was chuckling a few weeks ago at a news headline read dramatically by a lady anchor, “New reports from the heath field say, “Eat your veggies… OR RISK DEATH.”” She later reported that it is still important to eat healthy whole grains according to experts, of course. It’s a slow road, but it is being built.

Well done Mark. I can’t wait for the day when red meat and saturated fat are regarded as the health foods they truly are. These things should be shouted from the rooftops especially here in the USA. Think of the so called ” French Paradox”. They eat butter, cream, and red meat by the wheelbarrow full with much lower rates of heart disease. I have ate this way all of my life and always knew it was the most healthiest. Finally, the powers that be are coming around. Keep up the good work Mark.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Clay

3 years 9 months ago

But they also move around much more, eat much smaller meals, take longer eating them, don’t snack, eat little processed foods and eat cleaner. Telling an American to add meat and butter on top of their processed seeds oils, sugar laden drinks, processed food, and lack of exercise will not produce the same results. To many people, telling them to eat more meat means more McDonalds and Chili’s. You can’t separate out the French diet without considering their entire lifestyle and mindset.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Ingrid

3 years 9 months ago

Unfortunately, that was then. Now, the French are eating like the Americans and developing an obesity problem. Go to a supermarket in France and look at the shopping carts. Fast food joints galore. McDonald’s: Check, Kentucky Fried Chicken: check, Subway: check;
just to name a few….Yikes!

Great top ten list. I think the most important thing is realizing how saturated fat isn’t to be blamed for all the ills of society and that refined, processed carbohydrates have caused more damage than we realize.
It feels like it could take decades to reverse the mindset people have regarding this but it definitely is underway

Don’t let Medical Doctors get a hold of this info – it would eat deeply into their pocketbooks…

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Erin

3 years 9 months ago

you realize there are MD’s/DO’s/PA’s/CNP’s/RN’s/PT’s/OT’s here on MDA, right?

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Rhonda the Red

3 years 9 months ago

Thank you so much for being here too, all you medical professionals! I can’t imagine the pressure you all are under to conform to the official stances of the practice/hospital/insurance company etc! I know my own doctor has such a difficult time getting the tests run that we both know would be helpful to me because of the insane amounts of red tape involved.

Keep up the good fight!! It’s not hopeless!! There are too many good medical professionals who want to help people be well for the ball to stop rolling. It’s just going to roll slow.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Erin

3 years 9 months ago

I wish people would understand that our healthcare system is near completely driven by insurance reimbursement and politics. Thank you for your sympathies 🙂

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Trent

3 years 9 months ago

Great summary of sound principles. It’s funny how difficult it is to change after being bombarded with information for the last 15-20 years. It took me a long time to stop getting low fat crap, even after I knew the real stuff was better. It was also tough to get rid of the big, stiff running shoes even though I kept getting hurt (I have successfully made the transition all the way from Brooks Beast to a neutral shoe to Vibrams (occasionally when running) and roaming about completely unshod. Thanks for believing in those of us who have been stuck… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

oxide

3 years 9 months ago

“Exercise” is a popular answer because it doesn’t offend any lobbyists from Big Ag companies. Buying processed cupcakes and then buying a gym membership to exercise off the cupcake is seen as saintly. But if you tell them it’s easier to just avoid cupcakes in the first place… hoo boy. Attack attack attack…

When I was diagnosed with Celiac about 8 years ago, I remember patiently explaining the whole deal to my book club, & their listening with horror to my list of things I couldn’t eat. Then year by year, one after another discovered that gluten (& some also dairy) was harming her health in some way. Now the club is over half GF eaters, some also Paleo, & I’m betting in coming years there will be more & more of us! I wish the same trend was happening in my household… my husband is stubbornly wheat & sugar addicted, & wears… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Eva

3 years 9 months ago

I got rid of my asthma when i went GF. My digestion was always fine though, even eating gluten so I am not at all someone that would normally be suspected of being gluten sensitive. To see the effect, I had to be fairly diligent though, it was not enough to just cut back but still eat some daily. I really had to cut it out of daily eating. Now I can eat some occasionally with no apparent side effects, but I rarely do it. I am thinking gluten issues are on a continuum with celiacs way over on one… Read more »

Yes! I don’t take a single prescription– before going GF I had cycled through half a dozen to address my bouquet of symptoms– most of them caused side effects more unpleasant than the ill they “cured”. (And 3 were actually recalled!!)

When I was diagnosed, I was SO grateful that the solution was med-free! I couldn’t believe my frequent migraines, constant aching joints, anemia, recurrent stomach pain, & even brain fog & depression virtually all VANISHED within months!

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Eva

3 years 9 months ago

I’d also say that it’s becoming commonly believed and often that processed foods in general are not healthy. And yes, I’ve seen the tide turning and gut bacteria looks to be the new big thing. However, I think what we will likely see is a turn by big pharma to targeting it with more pills and treatments that are not cures or real fixes. There will be a new wave of artificial treatments, gut bacteria pills, etc. And we are also seeing continued in roads by GMO foods and chemicals into our food supply. Another area of concern is that… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Chewy

3 years 9 months ago

Primal since Aug 13, this is my first (and last) diet. Someone in my family asked me recently if I was still on ‘that diet’. I had to explain that it was for life, having lost 22lbs (13%) I said it was no longer about weight loss and all about long term health. I have a hard time explaining it to some people, and I recon I sell it quite well. I now just point them to MDA and warn them that reading the content will change them forever. This usually raises the curiosity level high enough.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

IP

3 years 9 months ago

Was your description of the Daily Mail sarcastic/ironic? I truly hope it was!

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Lorna

3 years 9 months ago

You took the words right out of my mouth IP! Not sure I’d be sharing this piece with my non-paleo friends if it’s not sarcasm. It would kinda take the weight out of the whole argument.

I took a WebMD quiz today (I know, shame on me) and one of the questions was which type of fat should you avoid: unsaturated or saturated fats. This is why we’ll have such a hard time breaking the good ole’ CW.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Gabrielle

3 years 9 months ago

I am confused, Chris Kresser just wrote an article on sitting/only exercising a few times a week. He seems to be against what you just spoke about. Can someone clue me in? I just really don’t know. Thanks!

I think I read that article & they were both on the same page as far as I could tell– constant sitting causes problems that intense exercise can’t cure. I can speak from experience as I have a very sedentary line of work, & if I don’t break it up with some activity I feel terrible!

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Gabrielle

3 years 9 months ago

Thank you Paleocurious! I guess my reading skills suck. I just skimmed or maybe just read out of context. I’ll give it another read and contemplate then. Yeah, that sucks. I am opposite and am constantly looking for a sit down but I guess I should appreciate the movement I have all day.

I recently went in for a foot x-ray because I thought I might have a stress fracture (I amped up my run training and the next day could barely walk right). Luckily, it was just a ligament strain, but the doctor asked if I was wearing shoes with a good arch support. I had just put my foot back in my VivoBarefoot shoe and just said “Ummmmm…” and explained that I wear minimalist and barefoot shoes, quickly adding “I’ve been wearing them for a long time though….I put on my ‘regular’ Nikes and it hurt even more!” She kind of… Read more »

The clincher for me was the “magarine is better for you than butter” thing. I knew they were full of the stinky brown stuff when they tried to tell me that. I never fell for the low fat craze, and I’m sure I’m healthier and, ironically, less overweight because of it.

Even in my worst conventional wisdom days, NOBODY could convince me that margarine was better than butter. I was also a steadfast egg yolk believer. 🙂

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Deanine

3 years 9 months ago

I continue to see a correlation between CW and the decline in our educational system. I started teaching in 1975 and those students performed better than many students today. Look at old textbooks or even magazines to see how our overall reading and comprehension abilities have declined. And why wouldn’t our skills decline when students eat sugared junk for breakfast and think a lunch of chips and a soft drink provide enough nutrients for a growing brain and body. The best thing we can do for the human race is to continue to tell the primal message to everyone.

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Simone

3 years 9 months ago

This is so true. As a student, I have experienced the change in intellect, time to focus and overall quality of my work from SAD to Primal within a month. Because of impaired gut health I started AIP recently and have even improved more. I used to be mediocre in my field of study and comparing myself now to people who always scored similar to me illustrates the change. Without extra work put in, I am now (18 months later) in the top 10% of my class. If you have kids in school, please feed them a nutrient dense diet.… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Barbara

3 years 9 months ago

Thanks Mark for the fantastic work you’re doing. This blog is music to my ears! It’s great that all these issues/topics are finally making it into mainstream, albeit slowly and often hotly contested.. A recent documentary piece on local TV here in New Zealand had a dietitian (converted away from conventional wisdom) giving information that was debunked because of “lack of relevant research” by an epidemiologist and a professor of human nutrition. Results were inconclusive but at least there was some good debate – seems like they all should read the links in this blog. And, yesterday in a supplement… Read more »

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Natalie

3 years 9 months ago

are you talking about the one on third degree? oh my god that guy from Otago who was going on about the evils of sat fats sounded like such a tosser haha i’m watching it right now!

Reply - ShareHide Replies ∧

Tracy Prior

3 years 9 months ago

Having a science and clinical practice background as well as advancing age, I am aware that research continues to turn accepted notions on their heads. I have always believed that long term health benefits tremendously from unprocessed food and an active lifestyle. I enjoy your updates and links. I do, however, dispute the description of The Daily Mail as a “prestigious publication”. It is a daily newspaper that caters to the lowest common denominator and would kindly be called a “daily rag” in England. You do your argument no justice by referring to it in your updates.